Family-run business raises over £4000 at festival event held in support of St Oswald’s Hospice

Newcastle based company National Building and Maintenance Solutions (NB&MS) recently held their very own family fun day and music festival, helping to raise much needed funds to support the ongoing work of St Oswald’s Hospice

Despite the weather, Benwell Festival, held at Benwell Hill Cricket Club, was hugely successful, attracting many local families from across the city to join in for a free day of family fun which included games and activities for all. Ticket holders for the sold out evening event were treated to a trio of musical entertainment from local artists.

Event organiser and Director at NB&MS, Andy Greenwell said, “We all had such a great day, we decided to organise a family fun day and festival because it was inclusive for all. So many people attended that had benefitted from St Oswald’s whether that be currently or in the past. We hope that everyone that attended had a great day despite the weather conditions. An incredible number of local businesses donated which helped raise as much as possible for such a worthy cause.

Stilt walkers, fire eaters and a magician made their way around the jam packed venue, making for a memorable evening all round.

Sonia Graham, Business Team Manager at St Oswald’s Hospice said, “Andy, Ray and the team at NB&MS have been so generous. The set up and atmosphere at the Benwell Festival was fantastic. To know they’ve raised in the region of £4000 for the Hospice is brilliant and will make such a difference to our patients and their families.”

This event is the latest in a series of support for the Hospice from NB&MS this year.

Earlier in the year, the company were contracted to refurbish the kitchen area in the Children and Young Adults Unit at St Oswald’s. The unit benefitted from a fully funded re-fit, providing a modern and accessible space with some extra finishing touches paid for by NB&MS including a special media wall and lighting.

Reflecting on the project, Ray Dees, Director of NB&MS said, “We couldn’t help but be moved by the work of St Oswald’s Hospice. It has been our pleasure to give something back.”

The interactive media wall features a 4K television screen with a specially designed slideshow, currently featuring fish and animals, that can be changed and adapted as desired by the St Oswald’s Hospice team.

Acting Matron of the Children and Young Adults Service, Holly Smith, explained, “The new kitchen provides a safe environment for children, young adults, staff and volunteers to use and enjoy for activities such as baking and cooking. The added benefit of the new lighting and media wall will provide some lovely sensory experiences for our children, too.”

Ray added, “We’re a family company and to gift something like this for the brave children who use the service was our pleasure.”

In addition to the kitchen project, the team at NB&MS came together to support the St Oswald’s Hospice Giving Day in March, with the company contributing over £3000 to the initiative that raised £330,000 in total in one day. The team also attended our corporate Golf Day in September, helping to raise an incredible £12,000 at the event, held at Close House Golf Club.

NB&MS has plans to continue their fundraising support for the Hospice with some new ideas in the pipeline for the coming year.

Andy added, “We all worked incredibly hard to pull the festival off and I truly think we succeeded. Plans are already afoot for St Oswald’s Festival 2024, in which we hope to raise even more money!”

If you’re interested in exploring opportunities to partner with St Oswald’s Hospice, please get in touch with the team at bettertogether@stoswaldsuk.org